![[S.S. Dickenson]](ssdsign.gif)
![[Picture of a Pigeon]](pigeon.gif)
Big business don't spring full-blown, suddenly into being. Today's giants all have humble roots, fed by somebody's sweat, blood, tears. And all around us, as never before, we see the human toll as high tech creates the most total and astonishing economic revolution since the industrial one routed the craft age.
I've never read anything that more poignantly illustrates both points - humble beginnings and high tech, vintage 1899 - than this happening, which took place literally at the turn of the century. It deals with one wee root in the long history of today's ITT. When CEO and good friend Rand Araskog stopped by recently, he said, "Have I got a tale for you!". He did and here it is:
ITT recently discovered in its archives a series of letters written by a Mr. S.S. Dickenson, who had been an employee of Commerical Cable Co., which ITT had acquired in 1928. The letters written from 1896 to 1900, disclose an attempt to train carrier pigeons to fly messages from Sable Island, a barren island 20 miles long in the North Atlantic, to Hazel Hill in Nova Scotia, over a hundred miles away.
Dear Sir,
The following, for the pigeons come duly to hand on the 30th ultime:........1 bushel peas (whole) / 3 bushel peas (split) / 25 lbs. rape seed / 25 lbs. hemp seed / 2 bushels cracked corn / 2 pieces rock salt.
As the supply of food left here by Sergt. Mulholland was completely exhausted before the above arrived I was compelled to purchase small lots here.
I will obtain quotations from New Glasgow but on account of the cost of freight I think we shall find it cheaper to get supplies from Halifax. We shall soon be able to tell how much food is required per day for a given number of birds and as we are in an isolated spot I think the better plan will be to obtain late each Fall a sufficient supply to last until navigation opens in the following Spring.
